The Texas Common Application

Useful Hints for Filling Out the Texas Common Application As with any other applications or forms, make sure you read the directions carefully. Take as much time as you need to make sure you understand what you're being asked. Don't hurry through. You're under no obligation to fill out the Texas Common Application in record time. Answer the questions you have been asked, and answer them thoroughly. If you don't know the codes you've been asked for, talk to your high school guidance counselor or the admissions office at the college you're applying to. Neatness counts, in both penmanship (if you're filling out the hardcopy of the application) and your ability to articulate your thoughts. Before you send in or submit the Texas Common Application, look it over again. Revise your answers where necessary. Read your answers aloud. Make sure they make sense! Finally, make a copy of the Texas Common Application to keep for yourself. You're on your way.

In May 1997, the 75^th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 150, which created the State of Texas Common Application for Admission to Texas Public Universities. The purpose of the bill was to allow students to complete one application and submit it to multiple universities. An advisory committee of university admissions officers and high school counselors began work on the form in October, 1997. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) adopted rules for the common admission application in July, 1998. As mandated by Sections 51.762 and 51.763 of the Texas Education Code, the form was ready for use by applicants for admission to Texas public universities for the 1999-2000 academic years. In order to honor the intent of the legislation to remain uniform in nature, universities are currently prohibited from pre-printing their own name or logo on the common application form.

The State of Texas Common Application for Admission to Texas Public Universities can be submitted in one of three ways: mailing in a preprinted form, e-mailing a completed on-line application, and mailing in a form printed from a website. The traditional method of applying, using the paper versions of the Freshman and Transfer/Transient/Readmission, is currently still available. Paper applications are distributed annually to all public universities, high schools, and community colleges. This method enables the student to complete an application and mail it to the various institutions. A codebook that lists all available major codes at each of the universities is also provided to the high schools, junior colleges, and universities to aid students in completing the common application. By including the codes requested on the common application, the data entry portion of the process is considerably faster. However, if a codebook is not available to the student, it is not detrimental to the application process.

The second method for submitting the State of Texas Common Application is the online application located on a university's admissions web page. This electronic format enables institutions to upload the student's data directly into their student information systems. As a result, the admissions process time is dramatically reduced for the student. In some instances, the student is able to view the status of his/her application status almost immediately through a university's admission/registration web portal.

Currently, electronic upload is not available to all institutions, but is expected to be common practice in the future. An additional advantage to using the online common application is the ability to pay a university's application fee (if required) using a major credit card.

The third method is a combination of the first two methods. Prospective students can print a copy of the common application from the internet. Since most universities will not accept faxed copies of the application, the applicant must send the completed application through postal mail.

An additional tip for using the common application is to know that submitting the application is only the beginning of the journey to become a college student. It is important that students realize that there are other components to being admitted to a university. Becoming familiar with the admission process and standards for each potential university is vital to the success of each student. For instance, what is the university's deadline for admission? Does the university require SAT or ACT scores? What is the minimum score required for admission on the SAT? ACT? What is the TASP test? Where do you take it? Are there any exemptions? What is an official transcript? Where do I get it? What is next? These are all common questions that must be answered prior to being admitted to a university. Students are encouraged to do their research and know where they want to attend college before applying to any school.

Provided by Denise Siler, Director of Admissions at Tarleton State University.